Abbott and the National Association of Community Health Centers are partnering on a national effort to develop and launch innovative programs that use healthy food and nutrition to combat chronic disease and other health issues.
As part of a national initiative aimed at helping health care professionals integrate nutrition into care plans, eight medical centers across the country have been selected to test an innovative “food as medicine” strategy.
The innovation incubator, launched by Abbott and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), will award each health center $30,000 in funding over the next six months to develop new programs. The goal is to create new strategies that can be adopted by the network of 1,400 health centers across the country, as well as other health systems and hospitals looking to address key social determinants of health.
“Food insecurity has serious health implications for communities that have underinvested in it,” NACHC President and CEO Kyu Rhee, MD, public health official, said in a press release. “As the nation’s largest primary care network, the health center’s highly effective and innovative integrated care model goes beyond the walls of the traditional doctor’s office to not only prevent disease but also address the social factors that can undermine health. Our focus this year is to create sustainable, effective strategies to solve food problems and improve nutrition.”
[Read also: Kaiser Permanente Launches Medicaid-Based ‘Food as Medicine’ Study.]
Research shows that approximately 13% of U.S. households suffer from food insecurity, and its effects are closely linked to clinical outcomes. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD, and heart disease can be hindered and even exacerbated by poor nutrition. Its impacts are felt most severely among underprivileged populations who lack access to quality food, but the concept of eating for health should be taught to everyone, regardless of social status.
Healthcare organizations are adopting food-as-medicine strategies to address SDOH and curb the skyrocketing costs of chronic disease management. Tactics used so far include programs that deliver healthy foods and prepared meals to patients, partnerships with local food markets, healthy eating incentive programs, and even virtual cooking and nutrition classes.
Participating medical centers are Affinia Healthcare in St. Louis, Asian Health Services in Oakland, Cabin Creek Health System in Charleston, West Virginia, Delaware Valley Community Health in Philadelphia, White Course Clinic in Richmond, Kentucky, Mainline Health System in Monticello, Arkansas, Tri-Area Community Health in Laurel Fork, Virginia, and Urban Health Plan in New York.
They will launch pilot projects over the next six months and will be invited to apply for one of two more awards in the fall. NACHC plans to share the program’s results with its network of community health centers, which impacts about 31 million people.
“In response to rising rates of food insecurity and chronic diseases, some of which can be better managed with a healthier diet, Urban Health Plan and our many community partners in the Bronx have prioritized increasing access to healthy foods for residents through food pantries, farmers’ markets and regular food distribution events,” Paloma Izquierdo Hernandez, president and CEO of the health center, said in a press release. “We will be inviting local chefs to teach the community how to prepare healthier meals, focusing on locally available, affordable and culturally valued foods.”
Now in its second year, the incubator was launched by NACHC’s Community Health Innovation Center, which has played a key role in helping the medical center address the digital divide through telehealth, patient portals and digital and health literacy programs.
Eric Wicklund is the associate content manager and senior editor of innovation at HealthLeaders.
